VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Just in time for back to school, police are planning to crack down on drivers talking on their cell phones. Police say distracted driving is the number one cause of traffic fatalities in Metro Vancouver.
The traffic blitz comes after the RCMP handed out more than 2,000 tickets to drivers in July and August, which is almost twice the number from last summer.
RCMP Superintendent Norm Gaumont says they put plainclothes officers at busy intersections to look for violators. They then alert another officer further up the street, who pulls over the driver and issues the ticket.
The fine for using a cellphone while driving is $167. If you're caught texting, you'll also get a three-point penalty on your drivers licence.
Police will also be checking for seatbelt violations. BC's law
banning handheld devices behind the wheel went into effect about a year and half ago.